Former graft-buster wins film award for reprising persona

AFP, HONG KONG

Mon, Apr 15, 2013 - Page 5

A former graft-buster won the best new performer prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards for a role reprising his corruption-fighting persona in a police thriller, which swept the awards.

Cold War took nine awards, including those for best film, best actor and best director, with former Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) deputy director of operations Alex Tsui (徐家傑) recognized in his first film role.

“This award has given me very strong feelings,” Tsui, who was sacked by the ICAC 20 years ago and who played the organization’s commissioner in the film, said onstage as he received his award.

“I have been acting well as a civil servant for 28 years, but the British did not like it,” he added.

Tsui was fired in 1993, four years before Britain returned the colony to China.

The details behind Tsui’s departure from the ICAC are unclear, with its commissioner not required to give an explanation for any sacking.

In Cold War veteran Hong Kong star Tony Leung Ka-fai (梁家輝) plays a deputy police commissioner vying for power with a fellow senior officer played by actor Aaron Kwok (郭富城) over an operation to rescue five kidnapped officers in the film.

The annual Hong Kong Film Awards — in its 32st edition this year — is considered to be the territory’s equivalent to the Oscars.